Game 3 Preview: Cannons vs Outlaws

The Cannons are off to an 0-2 start for the first time since 2009, and are looking to bounce back against a tough 2-0 Denver team. And they're doing so without starting goalie and 2011 MLL Championship Weekend MVP Jordan Burke, who was placed on the 2-Game Injured Reserve list following Saturday's loss to the Nationals. Burke will not be eligible to play until the next time the Cannons face the Outlaws on May 31. Mike Gabel, who replaced Jordan in the second half last week, will play on Saturday.

Mitch Belisle joins the roster following the end of his NLL season with the Minnesota Swarm, and Mike Stone re-joins the team after missing last week for personal reasons.

Ryan Boyle continues the quest for the MLL all-time points record, now just one from tying Casey Powell at 399 and two from standing alone with 400. On the season, Paul Rabil shares the top spot with three other players - including Denver's Chris Bocklet - with nine points in two games.

The Cannons and the Denver Outlaws met for the first time of the 2012 season on May 19 in Denver. Less than a minute into the game Denver put a point on the board, but Bill McGlone answered back for the Cannons to tie the game at one. The Cannons closed the first quarter with four straight: Mike Stone scored on a pass from Paul Rabil before JJ Morrissey scored his first Cannons goal during a man-down transition. McGlone added another and Rabil scored from just inside the two-point arc to give the Cannons a 5-3 lead. In the second quarter, Stone tallied two, Jon Hayes scored on a transition goal, and Matt Poskay scored his first of the night to put the Cannons up 9-5 going into the break. Kevin Buchanan and Stone completed their hat tricks in the fourth quarter, for the second and third game in a row, respectively, and Rabil notched a two-pointer to secure the 17-10 victory in Denver.

The Cannons next faced Denver on July 19 at Harvard Stadium. While Denver struck first, the teams traded goals in a low-scoring first quarter, including one each from Cannons attackmenPoskay and Ari Sussman, to end the quarter tied at two. The second quarter opened on a Pat Heim goal just 40 seconds in. Denver quickly tallied two more goals, including a two pointer. Poskay scored his second of the night to become one of just eight MLL players to reach 200 career goals. Stone added another but the Cannons entered halftime down, 8-5. The second half began with the Cannons matching Denver's five goals in the third, including a pair by Ryan Boyle and Rabil's first since July 7. After trading goals, Denver scored back-to-back to increase the lead to five, which the Cannons were unable to overcome as they fell, 17-13, to the Outlaws.

In light of the tragic events of the Boston Marathon, we will not be firing the Cannon after each Boston goal.